Allen vs. Bowen captures center stage

[CubanMustGo]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basket...92_sonx12.html

By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER

SAN ANTONIO -- The fierce, bitter and very public rivalry between Ray Allen and Bruce Bowen emerged as the storyline Tuesday, overshadowing the Spurs' still unfinished quest to overtake the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

As if the Spurs crowd needed a distraction until the second round of the playoffs arrive in about a month, they heckled Allen for his entire 32 minutes Tuesday at AT&T Center, booing as if he were Barry Manilow opening at a Metallica concert.

Bowen won this edition of their duel -- Allen scored just 14 points as the Spurs overtook the Sonics with a second-quarter run and cruised to a 104-95 win that wasn't that close. The crowd of 18,797 enjoyed the fact that Allen missed 8 of 13 shots while picking up four personal fouls.

He and Bowen, who tangled when the Sonics beat the Spurs on March 26 at KeyArena, exchanged no words, did very little jockeying for position and barely even looked at each other. Bowen escalated their long-simmering feud by telling a local newspaper that Allen "smacked him in the face" during their previous meeting. (hey, at least he didn't call StuJ [pronounce it "stooge"] to complain)

Of course, it was Bowen who was fined $10,000 by the NBA for kicking Allen in the back while both were tangled on the floor in the second quarter on March 26. Allen said a few days later in Memphis he called senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson and lobbied for a penalty against Bowen.

Bowen was angered by Allen's plea, but disdain didn't spill over into Tuesday, and Allen believes it's being blown out of proportion.

"You guys make way more out of it than it necessarily is," Allen said. "I believe he has had a retort to (the March 26 incident). But I won't have a conversation with him about that. It just wasn't there tonight. When you compete, you don't try to force something."

A 15-3 San Antonio run beginning near the end of the first quarter gave the Spurs control of the game and forced the Sonics to play catch-up. They weren't prepared for that challenge. Luke Ridnour was the lone Sonic who appeared untracked offensively, but he still got hammered in his matchup with Tony Parker.

Parker scored 27 points and he did not attempt a free throw. If he was left open on a pick-and-roll, he swished the jumper. If Ridnour came out on him, he carved room to the basket for one of his fearless drives. Parker scored 30 points in the team's previous meeting at AT&T Center with the same arsenal. Add to that a combined 27 points from Michael Finley and Rasho Nesterovic and the Sonics were cooked, as their season-high four-game winning streak melted in the central Texas heat.

"We wanted to give (Parker) some openings to shoot, and he made us pay," Hill said. "We couldn't make any shots and we just didn't play well. And give them credit, they do such a good job on Ray and Rashard (Lewis)."

Lewis looked irritated from the opening tip. On one sequence in the third quarter, he was knocked down on a drive to the basket with no whistle and he remained on the floor while the Spurs countered with a 3-point basket.

The Sonics could not cut into a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, thanks to nine points by Tim Duncan. (Could have been what, 12 or 13 if TD could hit more than half his FTs )

"They play so well together and they are gearing up for the playoffs," guard Earl Watson said. "They have played together for a long time, and you can see they are on the same page both offensively and defensively. That's where we are trying to get."

Allen attempted just nine shots in 19 first-half minutes, converting three as the Sonics shut down late in the first quarter and couldn't score consistently. After taking a 22-18 lead on a Ridnour layup with 1:27 left in the opening quarter, Seattle was outscored 15-2 and never got closer than five after that.

The Sonics shot just 39 percent as the Spurs interior defense controlled the paint , forcing Chris Wilcox (eight points) and the center tandem of Johan Petro and Robert Swift into difficult shots.

"It's hard to really judge (the Spurs) because I don't think we gave them much of a challenge," Allen said. "They played their game and beat us. And that's all there was to it."

Not hard to judge at all. They played their game and kicked your butt, Ray-Ray.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

overshadowing the Spurs' still unfinished quest to overtake the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Can someone tell the dumbass Seattle writer that we're in first? Thanks.

[sanman53]

I am glad the fans boo'd that mug.

[missmyzte]

Can someone tell the dumbass Seattle writer that we're in first? Thanks.

He means it's an unfinished task because the season isn't over, the Spurs haven't locked up the 1 seed yet.

[CubanMustGo]

But we're not "overtaking" them, that has been done.

[infinite styles]

"You guys make way more out of it than it necessarily is," Allen said. "I believe he has had a retort to (the March 26 incident). But I won't have a conversation with him about that. It just wasn't there tonight. When you compete, you don't try to force something."

The media would have never made anything of it if Allen wouldn't have opened his mouth in the first place. Sounds like he was embarrassed last night and is trying to fan the flames on this one.

[genghisrex]

Can someone tell the dumbass Seattle writer that we're in first? Thanks.

Hey, a little respect for the All-Star Break WC champions, please! It's still their conference to lose (again and again and again ...)

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

overshadowing the Spurs' still unfinished quest to overtake the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Missmyzte, the word 'overtake' implies we're trailing _allas. We're not.

[Kori Ellis]

Bowen escalated their long-simmering feud by telling a local newspaper that Allen "smacked him in the face" during their previous meeting.

When did Bowen say that?

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Luke Ridnour was the lone Sonic who appeared untracked offensively, but he still got hammered in his matchup with Tony Parker.

Wow, that's the second time in a couple days I've seen this error, from professional writers no less.

[CubanMustGo]

Check out this "professional" response to a message I sent the author on this topic. First, my message, verbatim:

Good morning. Your article in today's P-I starts with:

"... overshadowing the Spurs' still unfinished quest to overtake the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs."

SA is not trying to "overtake" anyone in the WC. Hold on to the lead, yes. With the win, the Spurs remain a game in front of the Mavs.

Thanks,

Mr. Washburn's "professional" response:

First of all, they are trying to overtake since the race is not over and secondly I am sure there are better things for you to worry about in your life.

My, my, testy aren't we. Didums not have a widdle cup of coffee this morning?

[CubanMustGo]

When did Bowen say that?

I think he was quoted out of context:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...s.d5a2919.html

The officials "hear from him that I'm doing all these dirty things to him," Bowen said. "But what about when he hits me? I didn't go say, 'Hey, on the jump ball, he smacked me in the face.'

Note he didn't actually SAY he got smacked in the face, but one could infer it.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Check out this "professional" response to a message I sent the author on this topic. First, my message, verbatim:

Good morning. Your article in today's P-I starts with:

"... overshadowing the Spurs' still unfinished quest to overtake the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs."

SA is not trying to "overtake" anyone in the WC. Hold on to the lead, yes. With the win, the Spurs remain a game in front of the Mavs.

Thanks,

Mr. Washburn's "professional" response:

First of all, they are trying to overtake since the race is not over and secondly I am sure there are better things for you to worry about in your life.

My, my, testy aren't we. Didums not have a widdle cup of coffee this morning?

That's funny stuff there.

[yeahone]

haha

[Darrin]

Check out this "professional" response to a message I sent the author on this topic. First, my message, verbatim:

Good morning. Your article in today's P-I starts with:

"... overshadowing the Spurs' still unfinished quest to overtake the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs."

SA is not trying to "overtake" anyone in the WC. Hold on to the lead, yes. With the win, the Spurs remain a game in front of the Mavs.

Thanks,

Mr. Washburn's "professional" response:

First of all, they are trying to overtake since the race is not over and secondly I am sure there are better things for you to worry about in your life.

My, my, testy aren't we. Didums not have a widdle cup of coffee this morning?

He probably filed the story two days before it was printed, at least the overall structure of it. As for the "better things," if he thinks you need a life, he should keep it to himself. At least he knows someone is reading his article with some scrutiny AND knows his name and how to contact him. If you get that life how will Mr. Washburn make a living? Not you specifically, but if he is responding like this to all "concerned" Spurs fans...

Way to look down your nose at the lifeblood of your career.

[leemajors]

heart and soul - GREAT HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS SONG